Can you believe it – go home the other night to find the Pop Doctor  clan transfixed by of all things – Felix The Cat – which somehow managed to find its way onto the tube.

Without thinking – Felix’s hypnotic presence was enough to plant me in my seat for the next 10 mins – as I regailed in the classic slapstick comedy which made this cat so originally cool.

It got me to pondering about all those subsequent pretenders to the title of TV’s coolest cat.

From Sylvester to Leonardo Lion, Snagglepuss to Kimba, there’s been more than a few.

So, just who is the world’s coolest cat?

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With the proliferation of music video clips – my mind can’t help but hark back to the very first screening of MTV when I was a teen and of course the now iconic “Video Killed The Radio Star” soundtrack by the Buggles.

Since then of course – up and coming performers have come and gone – but their music clips live on.

From Robert Palmer and his “Simply Irresistable” clip in the early 80’s through to Jamiroquai’s, “Virtual Insanity”, Radio Head’s “Just” and my personal favourite , Christopher Walken and Fat Boy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice”, there have been some absolute classics.

Sure – Michael Jackson went a ‘little’ over the top with “Thriller” – and Basement Jaxx might not be quite your cuppa tea – but you’ve gotta take your hat off to those who help visualize the airwaves.

But what have been the classics that have reverberated with you?

Perhaps Cher and the Missouri Battleship gun imagery thing lngers or even Olivia’s “Let’s Get Physical” piece of 80′s steam/cheese is one for the punters.

Shania Twain and her bevy of boyfolk or is there something just a little more creative and errr tasteful?

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OK - so maybe she won't make the grade . . . but who would?

When conversation turns to music – there’s no holding back – we all have our favourites.

But given the chance – who would you include in your ultimate rock band?

 I’m not talking a cast akin to the Mormon Tabernacle or Earth, Wind and Fire for that matter – but a five-piece gods of rock ensemble.

Notwithstanding all you fans of country and western, gospel, jazz, hip hop or techno – I’m looking for hard-nosed, bull at a gate, classic bastions of the grail.

But first – a few simple rules.

 1) Your band can consist of either the here and now, the dead and buried or a combo of both.

2) You need to include a drummer. Now despite what you may have heard – drummers aren’t a bad bunch. Not necessarily the top of genetic musical tree – but the lynchpin to any successful group. Perhaps its Keith Moon, Ringo Starr or Phil Collins. Maybe John Bonham, Buddy Rich or Mick Fleetwood – the choice is entirely yours.

3) Then you’ll need a bass player. Situated just slightly higher on the periodic table of elements needed for a band to make it big time. It could be anyone from Roger Waters to Paul McCartney, John Entwistle to your own personal legend.

4) You’ll need a lead guitar. What’s to be said? Insert here some of the greats of our time including Jimmy Hendrix, Slash, Eddie Van Halen or even an Eric Clapton.

5) A front man (or woman). Yep – you’re going to need a lead vocalist. Has John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bono or James Brown got what it takes. Perhaps Sheena Easton – hmmmmm – perhaps not!

6) PLUS one more of your choosing – (tambourine and castanet players not included) So there you have it! Wax lyrical and get into that headspace.

We’re getting the band together Elwood.

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What was it about the sitcom – Happy Days – that made it sooooo ‘cool’.

Let’s face it – when you look at the sum of its parts, the show had little going for it.

Imagine going to television executives (in an era when Mannix, The Streets of San Francisco, Kojak and Kung Fu were rating their collective scripts off) – with a handful of hotch potch ideas, a single pilot episode (featuring a middle class American family set in the 50’s, a dysfunctional local thug and Japanese diner proprietor) and trying bravely to keep a poker face when looking to sell the concept.

Well – apparently it worked and Milwaukee, Wisconsin was never the same again.

If there were a Sitcom Hall of Fame, “Happy Days” would surely have a cherished spot there.

For 10 years, we followed The Fonz, Richie, Ralph Malph, Potsie and the Cunninghams through an idealised version of American life in the late 50’s and early 60’s.

From some fairly lightweight scripts came some heavyweight ratings – and for the period 1975-1977 – it consistently featured in the Top 10 programs in the US and Australia.

As twee as its formulated characterisations and improvised situational comedy was – audiences loved it.

From The Fonz’s famous ‘Heeeeeyyyy’ to the familiar ‘Sit on It’ catchcry – the program (was at worst) – inoffensive cultural cringe – (at best) – wholesome family humour.

Then it happened . . . .

Having already spawn spinoff’s including Laverne and Shirley as well as Mork and Mindy – the Happy Days lustre began to tarnish.

Having already conceived the modern colloqualism “Nerd” – the program was about to add another (less fortunate – but still enduring term) – ‘Jumping The Shark’.

With ratings falling and producers looking for answers, a plot involving Fonzie performing a water ski jump over a shark in an episode during the show’s fifth season is often cited as the point where the series had passed its peak of quality and popularity.

The phrase ‘jumping the shark’ was later applied to popular culture phenomena in general.

Of course – the series continued – but as cast members gradually drifted the program and spin-offs including Joanie Loves Chachi – became increasingly tragic – the beauty and intent of those early seasons was lost.

If there was ever a case of getting too much of a good thing – unfortunately Happy Days was it.

 Heeeyyyyyyy!

Click Here To View the Opening Sequence to Happy Days

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There’s so many things the Japanese have brought to the world’s cultural table.

Origami, bonsai and duster slippers for cats.

But has there been any more significant gift to the western world than 60’s television animination?

Sure – we had our Charlie Brown’s, our Yogi Bear’s and our Bugs Bunny’s – but could anything really stack up against Gigantor or Astro Boy?

Perhaps the wide-eyed Marine Boy, who (along with his pals in the P1 – Bolton, Piper and father Dr Mariner) was plied with the responsibility of  making the oceans of the world safe – was more your cuppa tea.

Or was Prince Planet – with his enduring pendant of power more your go.

No wait – I bet Space Ace or Kimba – the White Lion proved themselves your animated saviour on more than one rainy afternoon.

For die hard fans, surely The Eighth Man (about an android super-hero) was the definitive black and white – and as for Speed Racer . . .

Ya’ know even my friends in the Land of the Brave, Home of the Free tried to get in on the act – with the addition of Karate into the whole Batfink and Karate deal – but I’m sorry – no cigar – that simply doesn’t count.

Then there’s the whole  Samurai and Phantom Agents TV series – complete with star-knives, Ninja’s and their almost religious mantra – ‘only use a gun as a last resort’ – but that’s another post altogether. 

At the end of the day, when the history of the world is written and passed down on stone tablets from the mount for us all to deliberate – will it be sushi, Toyota’s or duster slippers for cats we truly thank the Japanese for . . .

I think not.

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